Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering Company Limited's (HKG:8189) 26% Share Price Plunge Could Signal Some Risk

Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering Company Limited (HKG:8189) shareholders that were waiting for something to happen have been dealt a blow with a 26% share price drop in the last month. Instead of being rewarded, shareholders who have already held through the last twelve months are now sitting on a 32% share price drop.

Even after such a large drop in price, you could still be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering's P/S ratio of 0.3x, since the median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio for the Chemicals industry in Hong Kong is also close to 0.4x. While this might not raise any eyebrows, if the P/S ratio is not justified investors could be missing out on a potential opportunity or ignoring looming disappointment.

Check out our latest analysis for Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering

What Does Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering's Recent Performance Look Like?

As an illustration, revenue has deteriorated at Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering over the last year, which is not ideal at all. One possibility is that the P/S is moderate because investors think the company might still do enough to be in line with the broader industry in the near future. If you like the company, you'd at least be hoping this is the case so that you could potentially pick up some stock while it's not quite in favour.

Although there are no analyst estimates available for Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering, take a look at this free data-rich visualisation to see how the company stacks up on earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What Are Revenue Growth Metrics Telling Us About The P/S?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering would need to produce growth that's similar to the industry.

Taking a look back first, the company's revenue growth last year wasn't something to get excited about as it posted a disappointing decline of 1.4%. That put a dampener on the good run it was having over the longer-term as its three-year revenue growth is still a noteworthy 7.8% in total. Accordingly, while they would have preferred to keep the run going, shareholders would be roughly satisfied with the medium-term rates of revenue growth.

This is in contrast to the rest of the industry, which is expected to grow by 45% over the next year, materially higher than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.

With this in mind, we find it intriguing that Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering's P/S is comparable to that of its industry peers. Apparently many investors in the company are less bearish than recent times would indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock right now. They may be setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with recent growth rates.

The Bottom Line On Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering's P/S

Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering's plummeting stock price has brought its P/S back to a similar region as the rest of the industry. It's argued the price-to-sales ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator.

We've established that Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering's average P/S is a bit surprising since its recent three-year growth is lower than the wider industry forecast. When we see weak revenue with slower than industry growth, we suspect the share price is at risk of declining, bringing the P/S back in line with expectations. Unless the recent medium-term conditions improve, it's hard to accept the current share price as fair value.

It's always necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Tianjin TEDA Biomedical Engineering (at least 1 which is a bit unpleasant), and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

It's important to make sure you look for a great company, not just the first idea you come across. So if growing profitability aligns with your idea of a great company, take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with strong recent earnings growth (and a low P/E).

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.